Larry Dickson (born September 8, 1938,

Warren, Ohio Warren is a city in Trumbull County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. The population was 39,201 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Located along the Mahoning River, Warren lies approximately northwest of Youngstown, Ohio, Y ...

), is a former driver in the USAC and

CART A cart or dray (Australia and New Zealand) is a vehicle designed for transport, using two wheels and normally pulled by draught animals such as horses, donkeys, mules and oxen, or even smaller animals such as goats or large dogs. A handcart ...

Championship Car series. He raced in the 1965-1981 seasons, with 105 combined career starts, including the

Indianapolis 500 The Indianapolis 500, formally known as the Indianapolis 500-Mile Race, and commonly shortened to Indy 500, is an annual automobile race held at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in Speedway, Indiana, United States, an enclave suburb of Indian ...

in 1966-1969, 1971, 1978–1979, and 1981. He finished in the top ten 44 times, with his best finish in 2nd position in 1968 at Springfield. Dickson was also a 3 time USAC Sprint Car Series Champion in 1968, 1970 and 1975. Larry won 43 USAC Sprint car races and was the all-time leader in the division until Tom Bigelow broke his record. In the years 1968-71 Larry and Gary Bettenhausen raced each other in what was billed as "The Larry and Gary Show" or "Thunder (Bettenhausen) and Lightning (Dickson)" exchanging the USAC Sprint Car title between each other during those years. Larry also ventured to NASCAR to drive Richie Giachetti's Ford Torino in the

Daytona 500 The Daytona 500 is a NASCAR Cup Series motor race held annually at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Florida. It is the first of two Cup races held every year at Daytona, the second being the Coke Zero Sugar 400, and one of three ...

, running in the top ten before the engine expired. Larry finished his career in the USAC Silver Crown car owned by his brother, Tommy and Max Brittain. Larry is now semi-retired, living in Indianapolis and tending to his real estate investments.

Awards

*In 1990, he was inducted into the National Sprint Car Hall of Fame as part of its inaugural class.

Indy 500 results

USAC Sprint Cars = Three-time National Champion1968, 1970 and 1975. USAC records, National Speed Sport News and other national racing press. uNITWS RACING CLUB - National Champion and Rookie of the Year 1964 National Speed Sport News, Winner of the US Open supermodified race at Williams Grove, PA 1964

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dickson, Larry 1938 births Living people Indianapolis 500 drivers Champ Car drivers National Sprint Car Hall of Fame inductees Sportspeople from Marietta, Ohio Racing drivers from Ohio USAC Silver Crown Series drivers